Al-Assad Presents 3-Stage Political Solution

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad delivered a key speech on the situation in Syria on Sunday, assuring that his government will always extend its hand for dialogue with the opposition and political parties.

Describing his proposal as a peace plan, he called for a reconciliation conference with "those who have not

He assured that the ongoing conflict in Syria is nor between the state and the opposition but rather between the Syrian nation and its enemies."The first stage of a political solution would require that regional powers stop funding and arming (the opposition), an end to terrorist operations and controlling the borders," he said in a speech in central Damascus, his first public comments in months.He also stressed that the government "will not have dialogue with a puppet made by the West.""Government will call for a comprehensive national dialogue in the near future," he stated.

Moreover, al-Assad noted that Syria wants peace and reconciliation, adding that "the armed groups must stop their terrorist acts.""Those Syria faces today are those who carry the al-Qaeda ideology," he said. "There are those who seek to partition Syria and weaken it. But Syria is stronger and will remain sovereign. This is what upsets the West," he explained.The Syrian president warned "there is an agenda to partition Syria, especially with foreign mercenaries brought in the country to fight side by side with the terrorist armed groups."

He iterated that Syria is for all the people and therefore all should unite in protecting it.He lauded people in the villages that tried to block the entrance of militants from Turkey, adding that "the nation is for those who protect it."Bashar al-Assad assured at the end of his speech that liberating the Golan Heights will remain a cause to Syria, just like the Palestinian cause remains to be a central cause."We will remain to support the Resistance against the sole [Israeli} enemy," he accentuated.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

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betrayed Syria", to be followed by the formation of a new government and a general amnesty.

He assured that the ongoing conflict in Syria is nor between the state and the opposition but rather between the Syrian nation and its enemies."The first stage of a political solution would require that regional powers stop funding and arming (the opposition), an end to terrorist operations and controlling the borders," he said in a speech in central Damascus, his first public comments in months.He also stressed that the government "will not have dialogue with a puppet made by the West.""Government will call for a comprehensive national dialogue in the near future," he stated.

Moreover, al-Assad noted that Syria wants peace and reconciliation, adding that "the armed groups must stop their terrorist acts.""Those Syria faces today are those who carry the al-Qaeda ideology," he said. "There are those who seek to partition Syria and weaken it. But Syria is stronger and will remain sovereign. This is what upsets the West," he explained.The Syrian president warned "there is an agenda to partition Syria, especially with foreign mercenaries brought in the country to fight side by side with the terrorist armed groups."

He iterated that Syria is for all the people and therefore all should unite in protecting it.He lauded people in the villages that tried to block the entrance of militants from Turkey, adding that "the nation is for those who protect it."Bashar al-Assad assured at the end of his speech that liberating the Golan Heights will remain a cause to Syria, just like the Palestinian cause remains to be a central cause."We will remain to support the Resistance against the sole [Israeli} enemy," he accentuated.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence.